PROGRAM APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED JANUARY 1 THROUGH MARCH 31
Dear Prospective Student:
Thank you for your interest in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Northeast Texas Community College. Acceptance to the program is based on multiple criteria and applicants will be ranked by points using information the student provides to the PTA Department.
Please note:
- The PTA program DOES NOT retain material from previous application submissions. Applicants are responsible for keeping copies of all submitted materials. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).
- Effective September 1, 2026, the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners requires all applicants to have a valid Social Security Number (SSN) for issuance of a Physical Therapist Assistant license in Texas. Graduates who intend to seek licensure in Texas must meet this requirement to obtain their PTA license.
- Northeast Texas Community College will not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, or age in its education programs, activities, or employment policies.
- Any information that is misrepresented or falsified may result in denial of admission or expulsion from the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.
Please read the following instructions carefully.
STEP 1: Gather Required Application Materials
The following materials must be uploaded with your application, unless otherwise specified.
Before beginning the online application, gather all of the following documents:
Documents to electronically upload:
- Transcripts from all schools attended
- Substitution Course Form (if applicable)
- Courses in Progress Form (if applicable)
- HESI results sheet
- Essential Job Functions Form
- Observation Hours Forms
- Essay
Documents to Mail or Hand-Deliver:
Information regarding required forms:
- Transcripts from all schools attended: Transcripts from other schools should be submitted that contain only PTA core courses.
- Courses in progress: Include the form, Courses in Progress, to be completed and submitted as part of the application. The Courses in Progress form must be signed and dated by the course instructor(s) between March 20th and March 31st of the application year. This form ensures that you receive partial credit towards the PTA core GPA for those classes.
- Substitution Course Form: If you are unsure if a transfer course will be accepted as a substitution for a course on the NTCC PTA curriculum, please use this form to supply the necessary information for an evaluation. This includes courses from out-of-state colleges with differing course numbers and names.
- Essay: A typed, double-spaced, well-developed one-to-two page essay that explains your interest in the PTA Program. Comment on previous experiences (work or personal) and hobbies that have influenced your decision to enter into the field of physical therapy. Include ideas about how the PTA Program and subsequent licensure as a licensed physical therapist assistant may influence further educational and career plans.
- Essential Job Functions Form: Sign and upload
- HESI A2: Taken prior to application and the results sheet submitted online with all required materials. Sections of the HESI that must be taken are the following: Reading Comp, Vocabulary and General Knowledge, Grammar, and Anatomy & Physiology. Information regarding registering for and taking the exam can be obtained by contacting Ms. Jamille Kelley at 903-434-8272 in our testing center or by email at jkelley@ntcc.edu.
- Observation Hours Forms:
- The goal of observation hours is to provide the applicant an opportunity to observe and interact with practicing Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants and patients. Observation hours must be completed within 2 years of the application deadline.
- A total of 40 hours of direct observation with a PT or PTA is required and must be done in 3 different practice settings e.g. pediatrics, outpatient, in-patient rehab facility, acute care, long-term acute care, skilled nursing facility. The hours may be divided as the applicant chooses so long as there is a minimum of 8 hours in a given setting. Forms for documentation of observation hours are provided on the Forms for Admission page. In addition, a Student Observer Evaluation Form which must accompany each observation site must be mailed to the above address.
- NOTE: Do NOT mail the observation forms; those must be uploaded.
- Work experience, directly under a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may be counted as observation hours. Length and type of experience should be documented on the appropriate observation form(s).
- 8 hours of observation must still be gained in at least three different areas of physical therapy.
- Clinicians must complete a student observer evaluation form after the observation experience. Clinicians should complete the evaluation form, sign it, place it in an envelope, seal the envelope and sign across the seal - then return it to the applicant to submit. If the scores from the student observer evaluation form average less than 20/24 points, the student's application will be considered incomplete and will NOT be processed.
- It is the responsibility of the student applicant to contact any facility that offers physical therapy services to request observation hours. Do NOT contact the PTA program requesting assistance with this.
- Please contact facilities between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
- Dress as required by each facility. 'Business casual' attire means comfortable slacks and a collared shirt; NO open toe shoes, NO tee shirts, NO perfume or cologne, limited jewelry, and any visible tattoos should be covered.
- All observation hours must be supervised by a licensed Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant. The attached forms have spaces for both the printed name of your supervising therapist with credentials and the signature.
- Total your observation hours in the appropriate box on each form.
IMPORTANT: Do Not Upload the Student Observer Evaluation Form. If you choose to hand deliver the completed form(s), it/they must be in a sealed envelope, with the clinician's signature written across the seal of the envelope.
STEP 2: Review Instructions for Application Submission
Upload required materials as part of an application packet for the Physical Therapist Assistant Program via electronic application link; however, the reference forms and student observation evaluation forms must be mailed or hand-delivered to the PTA Department:
PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT PROGRAM
c/o Dr. Alyssa Clinton
Northeast Texas Community College
P.O. Box 1307
MT. Pleasant, TX 75456-1307
If you choose to hand deliver the completed reference form(s), it/they must be in a sealed envelope, with the signature of the person providing the reference written across the seal of the envelope.
It is the applicant's responsibility to see that references are received by the NTCC PTA department. The applicant may call the PTA office at 903.434.8124 to confirm delivery and receipt.
Step 3: Admissions Criteria and Ranking
After the above information has been evaluated, interview eligibility will be determined and interviews will be scheduled during April.
The admissions procedure is based on a point system utilizing the following criteria:
- Grade Points - In PTA core curriculum courses 25%
- Anatomy and Physiology GPA 15%
- Observation Hours 10%
- Essay 5%
- Reference Forms 10% (Employer/supervisor=most points followed by teacher/instructor, pastor/counselor, and friend in that order)
- HESI A2 test score 10%
Bonus Points: Applicants have the opportunity to add bonus points by having the following:
- Being an in district resident = 1 point
- Advanced degree (highest degree earned)
- Bachelors of Science or greater = 1 point
- Other Bachelors or greater =.5
- Associates Degree = .25
- Previous complete application submitted to program = .5 point
Once these are tabulated, the highest ranking candidates are chosen for an interview. Candidates granted an interview are assigned an onsite writing assignment and interviewed by the committee. The onsite writing assignment is graded for grammar, punctuation and organization. Each interviewer scores the applicant. The interview scores are then averaged and the final scores compiled:
Onsite writing = 5%
Interview = 20%
After the final scores are tabulated the top 16 students will be offered a position in the class. Eight alternates will also be chosen based on the next ranking scores. Those applicants selected for admission will be given an opportunity to accept or decline admission for this year. Those applicants not selected will be provided information about the re-application process.
Step 4: Accessing and Submitting the Application
After reviewing all information above and having all forms ready to submit, proceed to application below.
IMPORTANT:
Do Not Upload Student Observer Evaluation forms or Reference forms.
- Each Student Observer Evaluation Form should be given to the licensed professional under whom you are observing. The licensed professional should complete the form and return to you in a sealed and signed envelope for mailing. If you choose to hand deliver the completed reference form(s), it/they must be in a sealed envelope, with the signature of the person providing the reference written across the seal of the envelope.
- Reference Forms: Please do NOT provide more than two reference forms. The applicant must send these to the persons completing the forms. Please provide an envelope pre- addressed to the PTA Program so that the person completing the reference form may mail it back to us directly. If you choose to hand-deliver the reference forms, each must be in a sealed envelope, with the signature of the person providing the reference written across the seal of the envelope.
Applications must be completed within a 45 minute time frame. When you have your forms and documents ready to submit, click the link below to complete the application process.